Smart Money: Ingenuity helps bring life back to state waters

April 22, 2013

When it comes to the combination of extraordinary natural beauty and an economic model that can leave horrendous scars on the land, West Virginia is right at the top of the list. That also means our state has been at the forefront in tackling the problems.

An effort by the Division of Natural Resources has garnered the attention of the folks at National Geographic, for its simplicity and effectiveness. High levels of nitric and sulfuric acids, which scientists say can be the result of industrial pollution, but which also develop naturally from the decay of plants and animals, can result in pH levels toxic to the creatures living in our state's streams.

For decades, the prescribed solution has been to add neutralizing limestone to streambeds. The process involved setting up expensive water wheels, which slowly released the limestone into each stream. But in addition to being expensive, DNR officials discovered the wheels did not work very well, and often broke down.

So they found a cheaper, better way. While lacking the elegance of an elaborate water-wheel system, the solution they discovered - using trucks to dump loads of limestone sand directly into streams - effectively treats more than 70 spots in more than 50 streams, often more than once per year, for about $350,000.

According to Steve Brown of the DNR, this simple step has restored fishing to 260 miles of what he says were formerly lifeless waters within the state. And by reducing the cost so drastically, the DNR is able to pay the program's yearly cost entirely from the earned interest on an endowment created with a $2 million contribution from Dominion Resources.

Even if politicians are unlikely to acknowledge such a success, those on the front lines trying to find environmental solutions across the country should take note of West Virginia's achievement in throwing ingenuity instead of cash at a problem.